Support community for JTV.

New Variax JTV 59- having a tough time, can someone help?
by brywool on 2013-01-18 19:14:21.5430

Hi, Just got a new JTV59 (black). I'm really excited to use this live, but when it comes to tunings, I'm super confused.

My understanding is that the HD500 CAN store the tuning in individual patches along with the guitar model, but the old Variaxes can't.

In my show, I use a bunch of different tunings with an acoustic and I'm hoping that I can store these into presets on the HD500.

I've got the HD500 setup to receive the JVT signals and have written a basic acoustic patch to a channel. Great!

I've create the necessary patches in Workbench with their tunings.

When I click on them from Workbench, the guitar changes to the alt. tuning. Again, Great!

Now, when I try to write a patch from the Variax to an open slot on the HD500, it doesn't seem to store the tuning.

I read a post where someone said "You have to store them on your Variax first". I selected them in Workbench and moved them from left to right and did a sync.

However the tunings don't seem to work.

My apologies if this is an old point. I have looked through the forum and am still unclear.

Re: New Variax JTV 59- having a tough time, can someone help?
by silverhead on 2013-01-18 19:34:13.1340

There are two basic ways to work with alternate tunings using the HD500 and the JTV.

1) Use Workbench as you describe to load/store an alternate tuning in one of the model slots on the JTV guitar (e.g. Custom 1). Set the Tuning knob on the JTV to 'Model'. Now as you manually select the Custom 1 model on the JTV the alternate tuning will apply. Then save this JTV Model selection (Custom 1) to a patch/preset in the HD500. Now when you select the HD500 patch the Custom 1 preset will be selected on the JTV, and since its tuning knob is set to Model, the alternate tuning will apply.

2) No need to use Workbench. Set the JTV tuning knob to Standard. In the HD500 patch, select the desired JTV Model and use the alternate tuning feature in the HD500. You will find it in the Mixer page of HD500 Edit, or on Page 8 of the Setup pages (hold down the VIEW button to access the Setup pages). After saving the HD500 patch with the JTV Model and alternate tuning set as desired, selecting that patch will simultaneously select the saved JTV model and apply the alternate tuning to the JTV, referenced from Standard tuning as per the tuning knob position.

Personally, I prefer method #2 - no need for Workbench as long as you are using 6-string JTV models. I'm not very familiar with alternate tunings on 12-string models but it might be more complex than I've outlined here.

Re: New Variax JTV 59- having a tough time, can someone help?
by brywool on 2013-01-18 22:53:29.1120

Silverhead, thanks for the reply.

I was under the impression I could save the tunings and the model on the HD500 without having to worry about what position the tuning knob is in. That'd sure make things less complicated for shows.

I haven't checked the Alternate tuning deal on the HD500 yet. I will have a look and see how I do. It sounds like the #2 method might be a good way to go. Yeah, I'll be using the 12 string and 6 string patches.

Re: New Variax JTV 59- having a tough time, can someone help?
by silverhead on 2013-01-19 07:54:08.4750

brywool wrote:

...

I was under the impression I could save the tunings and the model on the HD500 without having to worry about what position the tuning knob is in. ..

You may be right on this; I find the manual ambiguous on this point. And I've only ever used the HD500-based alt tunings with the JTV knob in Standard position. Please let us know if you find it works properly in any position.

Re: New Variax JTV 59- having a tough time, can someone help?
by brywool on 2013-01-19 14:18:46.1390

Okay, so I got all my tunings in and they all come up as they should. Thanks a ton Silverhead!

I've not used this at a gig, just hope I can remember where everything is.

Using the 12 string up 7 frets is a bit weird. I'm not sure if it's cuz I'm hearing what I'm playing or not. It does sound funky when you're playing it though. I recorded it, and it sounds ok, but loses that acoustic feeling, which is a drag. It's also weird playing stuff I'd normally play up there with a capo, on the lower frets. Will take a bit of getting used to.

Anybody notice that when you do harmonics on the 12 string setting, with a virtual capo going, it can kind of wig out the notes?

Thanks again!

The information above may not be current, and you should direct questions to the current forum or review the manual.